Treating bladder stones

Surgery is usually needed to remove the stones from the bladder. The most common procedure is a cystolitholapaxy, where a thin tube (cystoscope) with a camera at the end is used to find the bladder stones.

The cystoscope will then use stone-crushing devices, lasers or ultrasound to break up the stones before they're removed.

Where possible, it's important to treat the underlying causes of bladder stones to prevent new stones developing in the future.